Ecological Factors Affecting Inland Waters

**43**

**Chapter 3**

**Abstract**

people.

global warming

**1. Introduction**

of Fisheries

*and Prasanna Pal*

Effect of Climate Change on

Aquatic Ecosystem and Production

*Satarupa Ghosh, Snigdha Chatterjee, Ghora Shiva Prasad* 

The exploitation of nature for decades due to several anthropogenic activities has changed the climatic conditions worldwide. The environment has been polluted with an increase of greenhouse gases. The major consequences are global warming, cyclone, an increase in sea level, etc. It has a clear negative impact on the natural environment including aquatic ones. As a result, production of fish in the aquaculture system and marine system is greatly affected. Marine ecosystems like coral reefs are also destroyed. Decreased fish production has also affected the livelihood and economic condition of the fish farmers. So, corrective measures should be taken to reduce the climate changes for minimizing its effects on fish production. Using more eco-friendly substances, planting more trees, and preserving our nature are some steps to be taken. Awareness should also be generated among the common

**Keywords:** aquatic environment, economy, climate change, fish production,

For the last few decades, climate change, food security and their complex interaction have become a global issue [1]. With the rapid increase in human population, we have destroyed our nature and polluted the environment. The level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is increasing day by day. Consequently, we are facing the threats of global warming and other climatic changes like cyclone, drought, flood, etc. Change in the climatic conditions may be limited to a specific region or may occur across the whole earth. But, it is affecting all the ecosystems including the aquatic ones. Aquatic organisms are very vulnerable to climate change because the average temperature of both air and water are changing simultaneously. Climate change in the aquatic system mainly occurs through sea level and temperature rise, change in monsoon patterns, extreme weather events and water stress having both direct and indirect impacts on aquatic animals including fish stocks. It directly acts upon the physiological behavior and growth pattern of organisms, subsequently decrease reproductive capacity and finally cause mortality. Indirectly it may alter the productivity, structure, function and composition of aquatic ecosystems. All these effects finally result in decreased fish production. It disturbs the economic

#### **Chapter 3**
